Ali MacGraw ascended to the status of a Hollywood superstar almost instantaneously. However, her departure from the entertainment industry was equally swift.
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Ali MacGraw
Ali MacGraw, originally named Elizabeth Alice MacGraw, was born on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York, USA. Her mother, Frances, was an artist who worked at a school in Paris before eventually relocating to Greenwich Village. She was married to Richard MacGraw, who was also an artist. Ali entered the world in the same year, 1939.
It is suggested that Ali’s father, Richard, faced challenges stemming from his own childhood, which contributed to his distinct personality.
He had survived a terrible childhood in an orphanage, running away at the age of 16 to go to sea. He would later study at an art school in Munich, Germany.
Ali MacGraw – childhood
Financial difficulties also plagued their family. Frances and Richard, along with Ali and her brother, Richard Jr., were compelled to relocate to a house situated within a Pound Ridge wilderness preserve, where they cohabited with an elderly couple.
“There were no doors; we shared the kitchen and bathroom with them,” Ali recounted. “It was a complete invasion of privacy. It was dreadful.”
Mother Frances took on various commercial art projects to support the family. Meanwhile, Richard struggled to sell his paintings, leading to significant frustration. As a consequence, Ali’s brother Richard often bore the brunt of their father’s anger at home.
“On good days, he was wonderful, but on bad days, he was unbearable,” she remembered. “Daddy would severely beat my brother. I witnessed it, and it was horrifying.”
Being the daughter of artists, Ali aspired to pursue a creative career as she matured. She received a scholarship to the preparatory school Rosemary Hall, and in 1956, she transitioned to Wellesley College in Massachusetts for her studies.
By the age of 22, Ali MacGraw moved to New York and got her first job as an assistant editor at Harper’s Bazaar, working with photographers as an assistant.
Fashion work in New York
Fashion editor Diana Vreeland hired Ali as, what she recalls as, a “flunkie”. Ever seen the film The Devil Wears Prada? Well, it was pretty much that.
“It was ‘Girl! Get me a pencil!’,” MacGraw recalled.
The aspiring Hollywood star initially served as an assistant for several months. Approximately six months later, her striking appearance caught the attention of fashion photographer Melvin Sokolsky, leading to her hiring as a stylist with an improved salary. She remained in this role for six years.
Ruth Ansel, a former art director for Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar, reflects, “I am unsure of the source of her remarkable work ethic, but Ali would arrive at eight in the morning, and on numerous occasions, I would return at one in the morning to find her still engaged in preparations for the following day.”
Ali excelled in her role as a stylist. However, she was soon invited to transition in front of the camera as a model. It did not take long for her to grace magazine covers worldwide and feature in television commercials. One opportunity led to another, and Ali swiftly immersed herself in the world of acting.
She had been sketched nude by Salvador Dali a couple of years earlier. But when the surrealist artist started sucking her toes, MacGraw decided that she’d rather be an actress than a model.
Ali MacGraw – films
Ali transitioned directly from an obscure stylist to the realm of cinema, making a remarkable entrance.
Her lack of formal training in film added a unique dimension to her acting. Her innate beauty captivated audiences.
After a minor role in A Lovely Way to Die (1968), she was invited to star in the 1969 film Goodbye, Columbus. This decision proved to be fortuitous, as MacGraw was awarded a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Female. The subsequent year marked her significant international breakthrough with a role that would largely define her career.
Ali MacGraw received a script from her agent, which she read and found so moving that it brought her to tears on two occasions. Deeply enamored with the material, she resolved to secure a role in the film and arranged a meeting with the producer, Robert Evans, who was then the head of production at Paramount Pictures. This meeting took place at the Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel. Evans not only believed she was the ideal choice for the role in the film “Love Story,” but he also developed a strong admiration for her.
In “Love Story,” MacGraw portrayed the character Jenny, sharing the screen with Ryan O’Neal. The film, an American romantic drama, featured her as a working-class college student and achieved significant commercial success.
Love Story hit the cinemas in 1970, and wow did the audience cherish it. It became the No. 1 film in the United States, and at the time, it was the sixth highest grossing movie in history in the US and Canada.
Award-winning actress
Ali MacGraw received an Academy Award nomination for her performance, while the film garnered her an additional win along with five Academy Award nominations. Furthermore, she achieved her second Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Film producer Robert Evans not only admired her talent on screen but also developed a romantic relationship with her, which she reciprocated. In 1969, they married, and two years later, they welcomed their son, Josh Evans.
During the 1970s, Ali MacGraw emerged as a prominent star; however, her personal life and marriage to Evans would soon face challenges. When Steve McQueen visited their home to invite her to co-star in The Getaway, an immediate connection formed between the two Hollywood icons.
“I looked in those blue eyes, and my knees started knocking,” MacGraw recalled. “I became obsessed.”
MacGraw and McQueen had an affair, and she soon left Evans to live with the actor in Malibu, along with her son Josh.
“Steve was this very original, principled guy who didn’t seem to be part of the system, and I loved that,” she said.
Ali MacGraw – Steve McQueen
After some time, Ali came to understand that Steve McQueen faced his own challenges. Following the abandonment of his mother by his father, a 14-year-old Steve was placed in a school for troubled youth. MacGraw mentioned that this experience led him to lose trust in women.
(Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
He disapproved of her professional ambitions and the fact that she had her own career. For a period, Ali chose to remain at home to care for their sons. However, the expectations set by her husband were ultimately intolerable for Ali.
Moreover, he would react with anger if she so much as glanced at another man. He also insisted that she sign a prenuptial agreement, which stipulated that she would not seek any financial support in the event of a divorce. Ali adhered to this agreement when they separated in 1978.
“I couldn’t even go to art class because Steve expected his ‘old lady’ to be there every night with dinner on the table,” she recalled.
“Steve’s idea of hot was not me. He liked blond bimbos, and they were always around.”
This marked the beginning of a rather challenging period in MacGraw’s life. She arrived on the set to film the 1978 production of Convoy under the influence of alcohol and drugs, which ultimately led her to make the decision to quit substance use.
Leaving show business
At the same time, several of her movies, such as Players (1970) and Just Tell Me What You Want (1980) flopped.
“It’s brutal for women,” MacGraw told The Guardian about returning to show business in the late 1970s.
It is my belief that no woman over the age of 40, who has been prominently featured in the public eye, escapes the fatigue that arises from the relentless scrutiny imposed by the media and the fashion industry. Such treatment is undeniably harsh.
Ali MacGraw experienced a brief period of fame as a Hollywood actress before transitioning to a career in interior design. However, she did not entirely abandon her pursuits in the entertainment industry, making appearances in the television miniseries The Winds of War (1983) and China Rose (1985). Unfortunately, her circumstances would soon take a turn for the worse.
MacGraw found herself struggling to secure film roles, leading her to feel a sense of worthlessness. Concurrently, she grappled with a profound need for companionship, likening the experience of being in love to the exhilaration of a drug high.
She felt alone and desperate, and drank heavily. In 1986, she checked herself into the Betty Ford Clinic in California.
“The worst stuff happened when I drank,” she said. “I lost my judgment; I fancied other women’s husbands.”
Family tragedies
Her son, Josh Evans, was 15 years old at that time and found it difficult to witness his mother’s pain. MacGraw participated in a 30-day group therapy program, emerging as a more resilient individual.
In 1993, another unfortunate event struck when her residence in California was consumed by a wildfire. Subsequently, she chose to leave Los Angeles and relocated to a town close to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“I live in a little village north of Santa Fe, New Mexico called Tesuque,” she revealed last year.
According to McGraw, her neighbors do not regard her as a former Hollywood star; rather, they value her extensive contributions to the community.
For instance, she has engaged in volunteer activities at the annual International Folk Art Market held in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Although Ali MacGraw stepped away from acting, she returned to the stage in 2006, reuniting with her Love Story co-star Ryan O’Neal in the Broadway adaptation of the Danish film Festen.
Beyond her involvement in the Broadway production, MacGraw has largely remained out of the public eye over the past few decades. She has dedicated herself to animal rights advocacy and has produced numerous successful yoga videos.
In an interview with the Herald-Tribune in 2019, MacGraw expressed her willingness to embrace new experiences and opportunities for work.
“One of the fortunate aspects of being my age is that I remain open and inquisitive,” MacGraw remarked. “I do not have a singular passion that leaves me feeling lost if I cannot pursue it. However, I am aware that my happiness diminishes when I am not engaged in creative endeavors.”
Josh Evans – Ali MacGraw
Even though Ali left acting, her family still has a foot in the business. Son Josh Evans is an actor and director, and he’s made a great name for himself in Hollywood.
Also, he looks so much like his mother!
Being the offspring of Hollywood icons Robert Evans and Ali MacGraw undoubtedly came with significant expectations.
For Josh Evans, who was born in January 1971, the allure of show business was evident from an early age.
Interestingly, his initial career aspirations did not lie within the realm of film. He did not envision himself as an actor; rather, his entry into the industry was somewhat serendipitous.
In 1989, Josh Evans made his film debut with a minor role in Dream a Little Dream, yet he yearned for greater opportunities. As a teenager with little to lose, he frequently visited the manager’s office to review the casting breakdowns for various film projects.
Josh Evans – actor & director
During that period, he encountered the renowned director Oliver Stone, who was in the process of creating the film Born on the Fourth of July, featuring Tom Cruise. Josh was eager to be a part of it.
“At that time, my only familiarity with [Oliver Stone] was through his work on Platoon. He was producing a film with Tom Cruise, and there was a role available for the younger brother. I was determined to audition for that part, so he arranged a meeting with Oliver Stone,” Josh Evans reflects.
“When I met with him, Oliver inquired, ‘Oh, do you believe you resemble Tom Cruise?’ In hindsight, I understand he was teasing me, but I confidently replied, ‘Yes, I do.’ He then responded, ‘We’ll see what unfolds.’ Four months later, I received a call to audition, and I ultimately secured the role. It was an exhilarating experience, and there was a palpable sense of how significant that film would become.”
Since that time, Josh has enjoyed a successful career in both acting and directing. He appeared in the biographical film The Doors in 1991 and has continued to pursue both acting and directing endeavors.
With eight films on his resume as a director, he actually had Michael Madsen starring in his 2015 film Death in the Desert. But what does he like best?
“I am definitely more comfortable on the side of the camera that does not show myself,” Josh Evans says.
“If an interesting opportunity presents itself, I am not opposed to it. I think there are other people out there who are more qualified and want it more than I do. As far as directing and telling my stories, I would do that for free, whereas acting is more of a job, but I enjoy it once I do it.”
Josh Evans – family
Josh is an exceptionally attractive individual, and he bears a striking resemblance to his mother, Ali MacGraw, particularly evident in his large, captivating eyes.
In 2019, his father, Robert Evans, who was Ali’s former husband, passed away. Nevertheless, the family cherishes the fond memory of their time together when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.
Josh has been married on two occasions. In October 2012, he wed American singer and musician Roxy Saint. At that time, their son Jackson was two years old, and Grandma Ali MacGraw delights in spending quality time with her beloved family.
“He’s so wonderful,” MacGraw said about her son. “He’s my favorite human being on the planet, and he goes out with a girl I’m nuts about. Their relationship is so much about, among other things, friendship and respect.”
Ali MacGraw and Josh Evans surely are very proud of their wonderful family. We wish them all the best in the future, and who knows, maybe we’ll see them on the same stage or movie set in the future?
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